CVE-2023-42443 : Security Advisory and Response

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-42443, a vulnerability in Vyper that could lead to memory corruption in certain builtins utilizing

msize

.

Understanding CVE-2023-42443

This section will cover what CVE-2023-42443 entails in terms of impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-42443?

Vyper, a Pythonic Smart Contract Language for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), is susceptible to memory corruption in specific builtins like

raw_call

,

create_from_blueprint

, and

create_copy_of

in versions <= 0.3.9.

The Impact of CVE-2023-42443

The vulnerability allows for the corruption of memory used by certain builtins, potentially leading to incorrect data execution and deployment of bytecode within the Vyper smart contract ecosystem.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-42443

Explore the specifics of the vulnerability in Vyper, including how it can be exploited and the systems affected.

Vulnerability Description

Under certain conditions, the memory utilized by

raw_call

,

create_from_blueprint

, and

create_copy_of

builtins can be corrupted, resulting in incorrect data execution or bytecode deployment.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vyper versions up to and including 0.3.9 are vulnerable to this memory corruption issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

Complex expressions passed as arguments to the affected builtins could trigger memory corruption, leading to potential exploitation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover how to address and mitigate the CVE-2023-42443 vulnerability to enhance the security of Vyper smart contracts.

Immediate Steps to Take

As of the publication date, no patched version is available. However, users are advised to cache complex expressions in memory before calling the affected builtins as a temporary workaround.

Long-Term Security Practices

Developers should monitor for security updates and patches from Vyper and implement proper coding practices to prevent memory corruption vulnerabilities in smart contract development.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about the latest developments and patches related to CVE-2023-42443 in Vyper to ensure the overall security of smart contracts on the platform.